Pce: Station Force Nova

  Renn was walking down the hallway, when he heard the inevitable.

  – Hey loser, I hope you feel better.

  Ben Yakoob shouted from the second floor. He did it from there so that everyone could hear him.

  Renn had to put up with him for a while, however to stop this faster, he had to do what no one likes to do.

  Renn walked up the stairs, without saying anything, approached Ben. Ben was prepared if he wanted a fight.

  –You won, I lost. I'm not a sore loser. Renn said with a firm voice. Benn was impressed. He never thought that Renn would accept his victory so easily. Benn was angry as he expected a stronger confrontation from him.

  – You are more of a loser than I imagined, I didn't think you would give up so easily. Ben said with a defiant face.

  – Do you believe that I gave up? Never, I'll crush you when I get the chance.

  Both of their gazes were on fire. Until the twins Dan and Eitán Rosenberg interrupted them.

  – Congratutions! The captain named you regur pilots. He was impressed with both of them.

  – Are you sure about that? Renn asked with a bit of disbelief.

  – If you don't believe me. You should go look at the selection table, there, you are listed in the first pce.

  Ben, with his haughty air, asserted it was a fact that he was going to be among the starters, but he was a little disappointed that they also chose a loser like Renn.

  The twins just smiled at what Ben said.

  – We have another news for you, you two were chosen to be flight comrades.

  – What!, They both said at the same time. They didn't believe it.

  – There's a mistake I'm sure, Ben said with concern.

  – It is a mistake, to be comrades, they would have to carry out compatibility tests. That's how it works, Renn said it seriously.

  – Atten hut. A commanding officer said loudly. It was the signal for the entry of the captain in command. All the cadets shouted "Yes Sir!"

  – Rest cadets, said the captain, looking at them with curiosity. – I imagine that you looked at the table and realized who was selected as regur pilots. 1- Renn Xander, 2- Ben Yakoob, 3- Rina Lion, 4- Dan Rosenberg, 5- Eitán Rosemberg and 6- Kiva Nova.

  Renn hurried and asked to speak.

  – Cadet. Do you have any questions?

  – Sir, There is an error in the table, it is written that Ben and I are comrades, but we have not completed any test for that.

  – You are right cadet, you have not carried out any tests. But in the race you did you synchronized perfectly at almost the same speed, in addition their heart rate and blood pressure demonstrate their compatibility and chemistry to be comrades.

  Everyone around appuded and ughed loudly at the news. Ben was upset.

  – Sir, with all due respect, I will not be the comrade of this...

  – Are you insubordinate, cadet? the captain interrupted him.

  – Listen to you both! I don't want to hear anything else, I want you both on the boarding strip, right now.

  Renn still couldn't believe it. This was the worst possible scenario. Renn thought that he was going to stain the memories with Orion, making a duo with this guy. He and his friend Orion were always the best comrades. It couldn't be the same with this arrogant guy.

  – Misión number 1: You will intercept 50 enemy vessels, I want you to agree on a strategy to take down most of them. Captain said with a serious voice. I'll give you a few minutes to come to an agreement.

  – Try not to faint this time. – Said Ben with a hurtful tone.

  – I hope you don't bleed to death. – Said Renn with an evil smile.

  Ben was surprised.

  – How did you know that? Ben said in an unkind tone.

  – The doctor.

  – Her?, Why... I shouldn't have told you anything... Ben said in an exalted manner...You know, You don't have to do anything, I'll take care of the enemy vessels.

  – Wow Excellent strategy, Renn said ironically.

  They were both about to fight again, when the captain came.

  – oK, your time is up, board the vessel.

  Both pilots unched their vessels into the fray, casting looks of hatred at each other before accelerating at high speed as 50 enemy test vessel appeared. Renn noticed Ben veering left, prompting him to take the opposite direction.

  Navigating adeptly, they attempted to corner their adversaries, but only managed to down 7 ships. The enemy vessels began to disperse, forcing Renn to maneuver deftly to evade incoming fire. Ben followed suit, but they needed to mount a counterattack. Both rival pilots felt frustration as the enemy ships forced them on the defensive. Renn activated communication with Ben, who informed him of his pn to swoop down and catch the enemy by surprise. With this knowledge, Ben had no option but to ascend, widening their attack range. They both executed a maneuver known as 'Back to Back,' a technique pilots used to shield each other from attacks from all angles. Together, they successfully downed an additional 20 ships.

  The captain was impressed, as they performed maneuvers that not every cadet could do at their age. His friends and other cadets also enjoyed the show.

  "Definitely, they are incredible," Rina said. "They both connect super well."

  "Yeah, they could pilot a mobile suit in the future," one of the twins said with a smile.

  "They'll be the RennBen team," the other twin said with an evil grin. "What do you think?"

  "I love it!!!" Rina agreed, and the other cadets around shouted "RennBen! RennBen! RennBen!" to encourage them.

  While this was happening, an emergency announcement alerted everyone. It reported that the vessel 345, carrying 50 volunteer recruits, had been destroyed by space insurgents. So far, 12 officers directing the vessel were confirmed dead, along with 20 recruits. Additionally, 10 were missing, and 20 were rescued from the emergency capsules. The cadets were stunned by this news, immediately checking the list of deceased and missing cadets.

  ***

  Pnet Kuirt

  Akiva Frost realized of the attack on vessel 345 long before the higher-ups and saw the list of missing people. He was dismayed to see that his friend Caleb Klein and Orion's ex-girlfriend were among them.

  His heart was aching. Caleb was his closest friend. They argued a lot, but at the end of the day, they always made up. The two could openly discuss technology, do mathematical calcutions, and program codes quickly. They worked on many projects together at the academy. Caleb had a great career ahead of him; he was a strategist, a mathematical genius, and a great pilot, just like Renn and Orion. Akiva had never imagined that Caleb had enlisted as a volunteer cadet. Caleb never told him, and Akiva would never have imagined it. Why had Caleb never mentioned this? To Akiva, dead or missing meant the same thing.

  – Damn idiot, I hate you, – Akiva said with tears in his eyes and a broken heart.

  ***

  Station El Orbe

  Orion fell to his knees when he saw the list of the missing. He was shaking, all of his senses failing him. He couldn't believe it. Dara Saa and Caleb Klein were on the same list.

  – Orion, Orion, Orion, Is something the matter? You've been strange since you read the list of missing people. Did you have anyone important on there?" Ezra asked curiously.

  – I will retire, Orion said with his spirit empty.

  – But, where are you going? We have to go to the next training session.

  – Today I'm not in the mood! Get away from me! Orion shouted, his eyes enraged.

  Ezra left him alone for at least that day, but he knew it had to do with that list and he would look into it. Orion then walked to an elevator and went to the top floor of the tower. There was no one there; only the stars could be seen in space. Orion screamed and shed tears like he had never done before.

  ***

  Station Force Nova

  Suddenly, Renn felt a bad feeling, he thought of Orion. He felt tightness in his chest but didn't know why. Renn thought that he was slowing down again or it was just a bad time remembering that she had to be comrades with a man as despicable as Ben.

  While Renn was lost in thought about him, the st vessel they had left to shoot down headed towards him to attack him, Renn couldn't respond quickly, but Ben shot it down for him.

  – What's wrong with you, we almost lost because of a simple vessel, or did you faint? Ben said mockingly.

  Renn did not know what's wrong with him.

  – Thank Ben, I owe you one.

  – I will charge you, I'm sure

  The captain congratuted them, and reminded them why he had put them together.

  – I might know how long I have to put up with Renn as a comrad...

  – Shut up cadet, go to the infirmary. Captain interrupted him.

  – Cadet Renn, then you enter the infirmary.

  – Yes sir.

  Then Renn entered the infirmary. The doctor told him to get on the stretcher. She was responsible for checking his heart every day after piloting and monitoring whether his brain or nervous system had suffered any damage. Renn was lost in her eyes; his heart beat faster.

  – Everything is very good, Cadet Xander. You can go, the doctor said with a smile.

  – Please, call me Renn.

  – Ok, Renn. Don't worry, you are fine. You can go.

  – Doctor... I would like... you and I... Is it possible that...

  –Renn, believe me, you are fine. I'll see you tomorrow.

  Renn couldn't say anything more. He was afraid of rejection, and having to see her every day would be uncomfortable. But Renn wasn't like that; he took risks. He promised himself that he was going to ask her out.

  Upon leaving, Renn learned the news: an attack on a ship of volunteer cadets, a list of the dead and missing. He couldn't believe who was there: Caleb and Dara. His friend and the girl Orion loved were gone.

  His hunch was not wrong. Orion was truly hurt. His true comrade. Renn felt like leaving everything and going to look for him, but he realized that he didn't know where Orion was. This helplessness, combined with the death of his friends, was too much to bear, and he started crying bitterly.

  to be continued